Apparatus for setting up matter to be reproduced by a printing process



Dec. 24, 1963 J. H. LEMCHE 3,115,057

APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP MATTER TO BE REPRODUCED BY A PRINTING PROCESS Filed Sept. 19, 1960 Attorneys 3,115,057 PARATUS FUR SETTENG UP MATTER TO BE REPRODUCIED BY A PRINTlNG PROCE Johan H. lLemche, Copenhagen, Denmark, assignor to Cartoprint A/ S Filed Sept. 19, 1960, fier. No. 56,819 Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 22, 1959 5 Claims. (Cl. 88-44) This invention relates to apparatus for use in setting up type matter for the purpose of enabling a printing surface to be prepared for use in a printing process: the invention is more especially concerned with the production of printed publications of the nature of telephone directories in which the various entries are arranged in a number of columns of type matter on each page.

At the present time the matter to be reproduced is set up in columns which are presented in succession to a photographic apparatus projecting the images of the presented columns onto a photographic film which is advanced step by step as the various columns are presented: the column images are thus collated on film which after development is used in the formation of a printing surface.

For one reason or another it is desirable that the spacing of the column images on the film shall vary: for example, if the printed product is required to have a number of columns of type matter on each page of a folding book, the spacing of the first column from the edge of a paper would be different from the spacing of the last column from the fold line: again, both spacings would be different from the spacing between columns: again the insertion of special pictorial or advertising matter may require a special spacing of the columns of type matter.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved machine which can be pre-set to control the advance of the film so as to set up the images thereon according to a predetermined pattern to suit the page requirements of the printed product.

According to the present invention, a setting up machine comprises a carrier to hold composed items in spaced relationship on the carrier, a photographic apparatus to project images of the composed items onto a film, means to advance the carrier and the film in step so that the various composed items are presented in succession for projection of their images onto the film in spaced relationship and means controlled in an improved manner, to vary the advance of the film to cause the image thereon to be spaced according to a desired pattern which can be pre-set to suit requirements.

The means to vary the advance of the film can take various forms: it would consist of a control which would be related to the item carrier so that as the carrier is moved step by step to present the various items, the control would set the film for an amount of advance suited to the requirements of that particular item in the total set up of the various items on the film.

In one arrangement which is intended for use in the production of a book such as a directory, the various columns of type matter are set up on a strip or on a collection of cards: the apparatus comprises a carrier drum having a number of faces to receive the prepared columns of matter in the proper sequence on the carrier. Forward of the drum is a photographic unit which includes a film advance mechanism, the drum and the film advance mechanism being arranged to be driven in step by electric motors.

The drum is locked in its various positions in each of which a column of matter on the drum is in the field of projection lens: such locking can be affected by a pawl engaging spaced location notches on the drum: the pawl Patented Dec. 24, 1963 is released by an electromagnet actuated by a start switch: the release of the pawl energises the drum motor to advance the drum to present the next column of matter which is itself then located by the pawl dropping into the next notch.

To enable the film advance to be varied to suit the required spacing of the columns on the film, the pawl when released may operate a switch energising an electromagnet which presses a control disc against a friction ring on a driving disc coupled to the film advance of the camera: the movement of the control disc to engage the driving disc operates a switch to energise the film advance motor.

The control disc can be provided with a number of control pins which are not only spaced angularly about the axis of rotation of the control disc but project from the face of the disc by different amounts. Disposed about the path of movement of the control disc is a multiswitch unit having as many switches as are required for the different amounts of film advance: these switches, which may be of the micro-switch type operate when actuated by one or other control pin to stop the drive to the film advance.

Thus, depending on the arrangement of the control pins on the control disc, the film is advanced different distances to suit the required spacing of the images projected onto it from the composed items on the faces of the drum.

Obviously, the pins on the control disc may be variously arranged to suit any particular requirement: in this Way high speed operation is assured for in most classes of work the column spacing requirements of the various pages of a book such as a directory follow the same pattern so that the control disc when once set will operate repeatedly to advance the film by amounts which repeatedly follow that pattern.

In one embodiment of the invention, the control of the advance of the film is effected electrically as by variable potentiometers and such an arrangement is shown in the accompanying drawing, the single FIGURE of which is a combined diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus and of the electrical connections.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a polygonal carrier or drum 1 which is mounted to turn on spindle ends 2., 3 so as to present its various faces in succession to a projection lens 4 for projecting an image on to a photographic film 5 trained between a supply spool 6 and a take-up spool 7.

The faces of the drum 1 are arranged to receive metal strips 8 on which are assembled cards 9 which together provide columns of type matter one on each face of the carrier, the columns extending as is shown lengthwise of the drum; the columns of type are illuminated as they are presented in succession to the projection lens 4 by a lamp in a reflector 10. The strips 8 carrying the cards are releasably held in position on the drum 1 by permanent magnets indicated at 11.

The drum is arranged to be turned at intervals to present its faces in succession by an electric motor 12 operating through a magnetic clutch .13. The drum is held stationary for exposure of a column of matter by a pawl 14 which enters one of a number of notches '15, one for each face of the drum, in a disc 16 secured to the spindle end 2. The pawl 14 is urged by a spring 17 to engage the disc 16 but is arranged to be drawn out of engagement to allow the drum to turn by a solenoid 18.

The assembled. cards 9 are arranged to be held flat for the exposure by pressure pads or plates 19, 20 mounted between arms 21, 22 on a spindle 23. The structure comprising the arms 21, 22 and the pressure pads 19, 20 is arranged to be swung towards and away from the rows of cards 9 by a link 24 operated by a disc 25 which can be turned by an electric motor 26.

The operation of presenting the cards 9 on the different faces of the drum 1 is initiated by the actuation of a foot switch 27: this switch energises the motor 26 through a micro-switch 28 so that as a first operation the pressure pad assembly is moved away from the drum 1 until the arm 21 operates the micro-switch 28 to de-energise the motor 26: the operation of the micro-switch 28 also causes the momentary ener-gisation of the solenoid 18 so that the pawl 14 is lifted clear of the disc '16. This operation of the pawl 14 also effects the operation of a microswitch 29 which in turn energises the magnetic clutch 13 so that the drum 1 is turned by the motor 12 to present a row of cards 9 for projection: this turning of the drum will take place until the \detent 14 enters the succeeding notch 15. At this time the pawl 14 will leave the microswitch 29 so as to interrupt drive to the drum 1 by deenergising the magnetic clutch 13: at the same time the pawl 14 will operate a micro-switch 30 which will through a micro-switch 30 re-energise the motor 26 to swing the pressure pad assembly back to hold the row of cards 9 now presented for projection.

The parts so far described operate to enable rows of cards 9 to be presented in succession for projection by the lens 4 which has a shutter operated by a solenoid 31. This solenoid is energised under the conjoint control of a micro-switch 32 and a time switch 33: the micro-switch is closed by a notch 34 in the disc 25 when the turning of the disc has re-applied the pressure pad assembly to the cards: the closing of the switch 32 energises the solenoid 31 through the pre-set time switch 33 so that the shutter of the projection lens 4 is opened for a pre-set time period to project the image of the presented row of cards on to the film which is stationary at this time.

It will be clear that as so far described the apparatus enables the columns of type matter set up by the cards 9 on the various faces of the drum to be projected in spaced relationship onto the film 5 by advancing the film between each projection. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means to enable the spacing of the columns projected on to the film to be selected to suit requirements. In the construction shown this is achieved as follows.

The take-up spool 7 is arranged to be turned by an electric motor 35, the ener-gisation of which is effected through an electronic amplifier 36: this amplifier receives an operating impulse at the time the time switch 33 deenergises the shutter control solenoid 31. The actual amount of the advance of the film 5 is measured by a rubber faced roller 37 which is carried by a spindle 38 on a frame comprising arms 39, 4d mounted on a spindle 41. The arms are moved, to engage the roller 37 against the film, by a solenoid 42. which is energised at the same time as the motor 35 by the amplifier 36.

The extent of turning of the measuring roller 37 is converted into an electrical value by a potentiometer 43: the out-put of the potentiometer 43 is balanced against the out-put of a pre-set potentiometer 44 so that the amount of advance of the film and hence the spacing between the columns of matter projected consequentially on to the film is automatically obtained.

The particular arrangement shown is arranged to enable the film to have projected onto it columns of type matter intended for reproduction as the adjacent pages of a publication such as a telephone directory: for such a purpose the film would require to have projected on to it in page lengths a varying number of adjacent columns (as set up by the various rows of cards assembled on the faces of the drum 1) and moreover the spacing of those columns on the film would require to be varied as has been described.

For this purpose the amplifier 36 (and hence the motor 35) is controlled by :a column number pre-setting switch 45 which operates to determine the number of steps that will be made by a stepping switch 46 before it returns to its zero position and thus to determine the number of columns which will be projected in a given succession on the film to constitute adjoining pages of type matter: additional potentiometers (corresponding in functions to the pre-setting potentiometer 44) are provided as shown at 47, 48, 49, each connected to a respective contact of the stepping switch 46, to enable the spacing of the various columns projected on to the film to be selected individually, the measurement of film advance made by the potentiometer 43 being balanced successively against the settings of the various poten-tiometers 44, 47, 48 and 49 or such of them as arranged to be brought into operation by the setting of the pre-setting switch 45.

In order to reset the potentiometer 43 when the roller 37 is moved away from the film 5, the roller is loaded by a clock spring 50 which (when the roller leaves the film) reverses the roller to bring a pin 51 on it against a stop 52.

The film 5 passes under masking plates 53, 54 which are adjustable relatively towards one another to control the width of the exposed area of the film.

It will be clear that with the apparatus described the presentation of the various columns of type matter constituted by the various assemblages of slips 9 on the various faces of the drum 1 will result in the creation of the film 5 of photographic images of those columns but with a spacing between the columns which is pre-set by the setting of the various potentiometers 44, 47, 48 and 49. Similarly, the number of columns in a given sequence can be predetermined by the setting of the setting switch 45.

I claim:

1. A photographic set-up machine comprising a rotatable carrier having means to hold composed columns of type matter in spaced circumferential relationship; light means positioned to shine on said carrier to illuminate said type matter; an optical projection device positioned to project an image of the illuminated type matter: support means for holding photo-sensitive material in the projection field of said projection device; means for intermittently rotating said carrier; operating means for operating said support means to advance said photo-sensitive material intermittently in synchronism with the intermittent rotation of said carrier whereby successively projected columns of type matter are received in succession in spaced relation by the photo-sensitive material; and adjustable means for controlling the operation of said operating means and being pre-settable to cause said support means to advance said photo-sensitive material a predetermined distance between the projection of each column of type matter thereon and the advance distance of which between each column can be individually varied, said adjustable means being operable in cycles, commencing with a first setting for a first predetermined photosensitive material advance and operating for a predetermined number of material advances through a predetermined pattern of settings.

2.. A photographic set-up machine as. claimed in claim 1 in which said adjustable means includes a first potentiometer operable for measuring each advance of the photo-sensitive material and an electrical network including a number of individually pre-settable potentiometers, and switching means operable for comparing the output of said first potentiometer with the settings of said individually pre-settable potentiometers in a predetermined sequence to cause said first potentiometer to operate to determine the distance of each advance of the photo-sensitive material in accordance with the setting of the individually pre-settable potentiometer with which it is being compared.

3. A photographic set-up machine as claimed in claim 2 including a clamping means mounted to move toward the carrier to hold the type matter to the carrier and to move away from the carrier to permit said carrier to be rotated, and means for operating said clamping means in synchronism with said operating means.

4. A photographic set-up machine as claimed in claim 3 in which said projection device includes a control shutter, and means to operate said shutter when said clamping means acts to hold the type matter to the carrier.

5. A photographic set-up machine as claimed in claim 4 in which said support means includes a photo-sensitive material supply spool and a photo-sensitive material takeup spool, said machine further including a roller mounted to move into and out of driving relation with said takeup spool under the control of said switching means, and means operable by said roller when rotated by said takeup spool for operating said first potentiometer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC SET-UP MACHINE COMPRISING A ROTATABLE CARRIER HAVING MEANS TO HOLD COMPOSED COLUMNS OF TYPE MATTER IN SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIP; LIGHT MEANS POSITIONED TO SHINE ON SAID CARRIER TO ILLUMINATE SAID TYPE MATTER; AN OPTICAL PROJECTION DEVICE POSITIONED TO PROJECT AN IMAGE OF THE ILLUMINATED TYPE MATTER: SUPPORT MEANS FOR HOLDING PHOTO-SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN THE PROJECTION FIELD OF SAID PROJECTION DEVICE; MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING SAID CARRIER; OPERATING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO ADVANCE SAID PHOTO-SENSITIVE MATERIAL INTERMITTENTLY IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE INTERMITTENT ROTATION OF SAID CARRIER WHEREBY SUCCESSIVELY PROJECTED COLUMNS OF TYPE MATTER ARE RECEIVED IN SUCCESSION IN SPACED RELATION BY THE PHOTO-SENSITIVE MATERIAL; AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID OPERATING MEANS AND BEING PRE-SETTABLE TO CAUSE SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO ADVANCE SAID PHOTO-SENSITIVE MATERIAL A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PROJECTION OF EACH COLUMN OF TYPE MATTER THEREON AND THE ADVANCE DISTANCE OF WHICH BETWEEN EACH COLUMN CAN BE INDIVIDUALLY VARIED, SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN CYCLES, COMMENCING WITH A FIRST SETTING FOR A FIRST PREDETERMINED PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL ADVANCE AND OPERATING FOR A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF MATERIAL ADVANCES THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATTERN OF SETTINGS. 